To begin with, Topaz makes some of the easiest-to-use signature capture tablets available today. The support level available for these signature pads is unprecedented. If you have a program that can use a signature capture pad, a Topaz pad will probably work.

Topaz has developer kits available, making it possible to integrate Topaz electronic signature pads into a wide variety of software applications. I have seen people use these kits to integrate signature capture pads for use with state driver’s license departments, pharmacies and much more. You can find some of Topaz’s developer tools here.

Topaz SigLite capture pads are very similar to Topaz SignatureGem pads. The have the high-quality biometric and forensic capture techniques of a SignatureGem tablet but with a low-cost touchpad and stylus in place of the active electromagnetic pen and sensor.

The Topaz SigLite 1 x 5 T-S460 will work with programs such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Excel and other programs right out of the box. It includes drivers and software that run in the background, capturing the signature and allowing the user to paste that in to just about any program that has a “paste-capable” field.

The SigLite T-S460 has a signing area that is one inch tall and five inches wide. It has a capture life of 10,000 signatures. For the price, that is really good. If you need a machine capable of capturing more signatures, you may want to consider using a SignatureGem. Many of our Topaz SignatureGem pads have a 250,000 plus signature lifespan.

I have used this pad to apply signatures to the back of photo ID cards without any problems, using Card 5 software. The SigLite T-S460 is extremely portable, very easy to set up and is simple to use. It is available in a USB or serial design. Overall, I consider it to be a great value.

Are you in need of an electric stapler that can be used to do both saddle and flat stapling? One model you may want to consider is the Rapid 106 electric saddle stapler (found here). I have used the Rapid 106 stapler and this is my review.

To begin with, the Rapid 106 electric stapler is used for stapling booklets, paper, retail packaging, chipboard and more. It is considered by many people to be one of the most versatile electric staplers available today. The Rapid 106 Saddle Staple has been around for years and continues to use the same time-tested design as it had 10+ years ago.

The Rapid 106 is designed to be mounted to the edge of a counter, table or workbench by use of a clamp. It is very easy to mount, and once installed, is very solid. This saddle stapler is easy to loosen the clamp and re-position the stapler if needed.

The Rapid 106 is electric powered, using a motor to staple paper. The Rapid 106 staple head is capable of stapling through up to 40 sheets of standard 20# paper at a time, which is pretty nice for an electric stapler. The staple head itself has a pressure adjustment dial that allows the operator to adjust the striking force of the stapling head against the anvil, depending on the amount of paper being stapled.

The motor in the Rapid 106 can be activated by use of a micro-switch or a foot pedal. This versatility makes the Rapid 106 extremely easy to use. I personally like using the food pedal on the Rapid 106 because I can hold the paper with two hands. This is often referred to as hands-free operation.

A guide can be set up on the stapling platform of the Rapid 106 if you are double stapling paper for booklet making. Simply slide the folded paper one direction, staple and then slide the paper to the other side of the guide and staple again.

The entire stapling process takes just seconds. While I have personally used the Rapid 106 more for saddle stapling, the stapling platform can be adjusted for flat stapling. This adjustment takes just seconds. The ability to do both saddle and flat stapling is really nice in a stapler of this size.

One of the nicest features is the Rapid 106’s ability to be linked up with several staplers for simultaneous operation. This is sometimes referred to as ganging. A kit is available for the Rapid 106 that will allow multiple staplers to be used at the same time.

Overall I really like the Rapid 106 saddle stapler. It is very affordable, considering what it does, and the production speed benefits over a manual stapler are tremendous. It can be used for heavy-duty and continuous stapling without any problems. I highly recommend this model.

Are you in need of a compact, durable and commercial-quality pouch laminator that can be used to laminate ID cards, business cards and other material? One pouch laminating machine you may want to consider using is the Banner American PL4A pouch laminator (found here). I have used this laminator and this is my review.

Banner American, the people who make the PL4A, have been making laminators for years now. In fact, the actual design of the PL4A has been around since I started working for ABC Office 10 years ago. The design has been tried and tested. Customer complaints are nil.

The Banner American PL4A is a 3 ¾-inch wide pouch laminator primarily designed to laminate photo ID cards, luggage tags, business cards, photographs and other documents. Not only does the PL4A do this quickly, it does it well.

The PL4A utilizes a four roller system, which is really nice (and uncommon) for a laminator this small. Four rollers, versus two, more evenly distributes heat and pressure. This means fewer bubbles, ripples and cloudy results.

The PL4A is capable of using laminating film up to 10 mils thick. This is the thickest film that we sell. This means you can laminate documents using 3, 5, 7 and 10 mil film.

The adjustable temperature, located on the bottom of the machine, makes it possible to get the perfect temperature for the item you are laminating. The PL4A is even available in a version called the PL4AT that includes a built in thermometer for precision.

Another nice feature about the PL4A is that it has separate motor and temperature controls. This means you can keep the PL4A fully warmed without having the motor running. Laminators that use one single switch for heat and motor often suffer premature motor issues.

One thing I would like to see in the PL4A is more digital controls. The PL4A is very analog with switches and dials. This is more of a wish than a complaint. Of course the PL4A is a solid machine and as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This is probably the case with the PL4A.

I have to say that the PL4A, after having used it for years, is probably my favorite pouch laminator in the four-inch range. It simply works well, very well.

Have you ever tried digging through a box of $5 DVDs? You’re lucky if you can get through the first layer. Most customers end up never knowing exactly what you’re selling. A nice DVD stand or display can easily help improve DVD sales by making them easier to see and access.

There are a few different options to choose from when it comes to displaying DVDs. The method you end up using will depend on space and placement. DVD stands and displays come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most are made from durable wire.

Here are a few DVD display and stand options you may want to consider:
Wall DVD Display (found here) – A wall display allows you to make good use of wall space. This type of DVD display makes disks easy to view and access. You will find this type of DVD display in rental and retail stores. When configured in a zig zag pattern, you can easily display and hold dozens and sometimes hundreds of disks.

Revolving DVD Stand (found here) – Revolving DVD stands are the most popular way to display DVDs in a retail store. This is because they take up little space, are easy to move and can be placed at checkouts, electronics sales and much more. They can be used to hold DVD movies, Blu-ray movies and even video games from Nintendo, Xbox and the PlayStation. Revolving DVD stands come in a variety of pocket configurations.

Good luck displaying your DVDs, Blu-rays and video games! Need some advice or have some additional questions? Call us at 1-800-658-8788.

At ABC Office we are always looking for new ways to increase our product selection in an effort to give you more choices and better prices. We are happy to announce that today we are now able to offer you binding machines, paper shredders, laminators and paper folders from Intelli-Zone™.

Intelli-Zone™ offers these products under the Intelli-Bind™, Intelli-Lam™, Intelli-Shred™ and Intelli-Fold™ names. While these machines won’t be available to ship until September 2010, we are currently offering extremely low pre-order pricing. If you are able to lock in your order now, you will not only get a great price, but you will also be at the front of the line.

We are excited about this new addition and expect the Intelli-Zone™ addition to be a big hit with our customers. Do you have questions about Intelli-Zone™ office equipment? Call us at 1-800-658-8788 or post your question in a comment.

Are you looking for a well-rounded machine that can take your paper, fold it and insert it into an envelope? Seems like a pretty complex process, but there are machines out there that can do this. One machine you should seriously consider is the Formax FD-6202 envelope stuffer and inserter. I have used this machine and this is my review.

To begin with, the Formax FD-6202 is available in three different versions. The first is the FD-6202 Advanced 1 (one sheet and one insert), the FD-6202 Basic 2 (two sheets) and the FD6202 Advanced 2 (two sheets and one inserter). I have personally used the FD6202 Advanced 2.

The Formax FD-6202 folding and inserting machine really does it all. It is truly amazing that a single machine can complete these steps:

Take the paper.

Fold the paper.

Insert the paper into an envelope.

Seal the envelope shut.

Eject the folded envelope.

Repeat the process.

The control panel on the FD-6202 is very easy to use. It is set up with common fold types and envelope types, but it can be set up for custom jobs. These custom jobs can then be stored in the memory for later use. Fold types include letter folds, accordion (Z) folds, single folds and more.

The paper hoppers can hold up to 325 sheets each and the envelope tray holds up to 250 envelopes at a time. Once the machine starts up, it doesn’t require much babysitting. It can run from start to finish on its own.

The Formax FD-6202 is not capable of working with all envelopes. We actually require that sample envelopes be sent in ahead of time so we can guarantee that they will work properly.

Be aware that Formax folder inserting machines cannot be used with glossy paper. This is because a good part of the work done by the folding and inserting machine requires friction. Glossy paper causes the rollers in the machine to slip, resulting in a jam.

We actually have one of these machines on our showroom floor and are able to offer a “live video demo” over the Internet. This allows you to see the machine in use (live) and ask questions at the same time. You can sign up for a live video demonstration here.

We actually shot a video demo of me using the FD-6202 Advanced 2 that you can find here. It is broken up into three parts and is very detailed. You can view that video demo here.

Are you a scrapbooker or need a paper cutter for cutting down paper, photographs and card stock using interchangeable blades with different cutting patterns? One line of cutters you may want to consider using is the Carl RT-200 or the Car RT-218 rotary paper cutters (found here). I have personally used these cutters and this is my review.

I originally got a Carl RT-200 for my wife as a Christmas present. She really liked it and ended up asking me to buy a few additional cutting blades. The Carl RT-200 comes with a straight blade, but optional blades may be purchased. These blades include a scoring blade, a perforating blade, a scallop blade, a Victorian blade and many more. In all, there are about 11 blades you can get for the RT-200 and RT-218.

My wife primarily uses the RT-200 to cut down photographs, but has also used it to cut down patterned paper. You know, the paper that you get at craft stores that has flowers and stuff printed on it. As a guy, and being pretty unfamiliar with the scrapbooking world, I don’t know the exact terminology for this stuff.

My wife has had the RT-200 for about two years now and it still works well. The blades themselves are very easy to change out, so if for any reason a blade does go dull, no problem. I’m not saying my wife is hard to please, but if she still likes the cutter after two years, it’s a pretty safe bet many people will as well.

The RT-200 and RT-218 aren’t designed for high-volume cutting. They are primarily targeted towards hobby, scrapbooking and light-volume use. For the price though, they are great little cutters.

Both cutters are rated at cutting 10 sheets of standard 20# paper at a time. The only difference between both models of cutter is the cutting length. The RT-200 has a 12-inch cutting length and the RT-218 has an 18-inch cutting length.

Having used these cutters myself, I have to say that my overall impression is pretty high. Both the Carl RT-200 and RT-218 easily compete with (and exceed) Fiskars, Purple Cows and other popular hobby cutters.

In need of a durable coil binding machine capable of continuous daily use? With a lot of cheap binding machines floating around out there, it is tough to know if you are getting a good machine. One coil binder you may want to consider is the Akiles CoilMac-ECI Plus coil binding machine (found here). I have used this machine and this is my review.

The CoilMac-ECI Plus is designed for continuous daily use. It features a manually operated hole punch and large coil inserter. This coil binding machine is made from solid metal construction, as is the case with most Akiles brand binding machines.

The punching pins are thick and designed to punch all day long without dulling, bending or jamming. I actually had our Service Technician open this machine up for me and the inside is all metal, including the gears. It is a great work of engineering when it comes to coil binding machines.

The punching pins are aligned in a 4:1 pitch hole pattern. This means the machine will punch four holes per inch of paper. This is the most common coil binding hole patter used today. The CoilMac-ECI Plus can punch up to 20 sheets of paper at a time.

Unlike the CoilMac-ECI Plus’s cousin, the standard CoilMac-ECI, the ECI Plus punches oval-shaped holes. These oval holes are supposed to make coil insertion and page turns easier. I have used both round and oval holes in book binding and am personally fine with both formats. Both 4:1 pitch round and oval holes take the same supplies.

The ECI Plus also features fully disengaging punching pins. This means you can select exactly which holes you want punched. This is really nice when binding custom books. Have you ever used a binding machine that ended up with a half-punched hole at the end of the paper? This is no longer an issue with disengaging punching pins.

The CoilMac-ECI Plus weighs in at about 52 pounds, so be sure you set it on a desk or table that can support that weight. That shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

My favorite feature in the CoilMac-ECI Plus is the electric coil inserter. Any inserter is nice, but the CoilMac-ECI Plus uses a wide and powerful inserter that makes coil insertion extremely easy. A food pedal is used to turn the inserter on and off, which allows you to hold the book with both hands.

Overall I am extremely impressed with this coil binding machine. I really can’t find any faults in it. Sure it would be nice to have an electric punch, but you really can’t complain too much considering the quality and the price.

So I was recently on Yahoo’s home page and noticed an article titled “12 alternative uses for coffee filters” found here. That got me to thinking. What are some of the oddest things our customers have done with the products we sell? I have had customers tell me some pretty interesting uses for laminating film. Here’s what I have come up with.

Top 9 Alternative Uses For Laminating Film

Markerboards – Laminating film has a glossy surface that can be easily written on by marker board markers. Laminate a white sheet of paper, stick a magnet on the back and you have a fridge whiteboard.

Placemats – I have had people tell me that they have made (and sold) placemats for eating by simply printing a picture and laminating it with a 12 x 18 sheet of film.

Coasters – Laminating film is waterproof and will easily protect a table from a cold cup or beverage.

Luggage Tags – This one is done all the time. Get a luggage-size pouch and use it as a luggage tag. You can even get luggage-tag size pouches that already have a slot punched for a strap.

Bookmarks – This one is pretty popular. Laminate a photograph or a piece of artwork, cut it down into a rectangular shape and use it as a bookmark. I have even had people put a hole punch in the corner and tie a piece of ribbon to it.

Cutting Mats – Need a cutting mat? Laminate a sheet of card stock or a poly sheet using a 10 mil pouch and you have an instant cutting mat.

Flower Preservation – I have had people put flower specimens in lamination film and laminate it. This is often done for preservation, scrapbooking or for making cards.

Funnels – Because laminating film is waterproof, you can easily laminate a sheet of paper and roll it up into a funnel. It’s cheap, temporary and disposable.

Snow Scrapers – This one is pushing it, but I have had people tell me that a good 10 mil laminated pouch makes a great snow scraper. This is about as effective as using a credit card.

That time of the year is rolling around again. What time’s that? I’m referring to the end of the government fiscal year. Budgets need to be spent before they expire. One popular government purchase is the paper shredder.

Why are shredders so popular? This is because paper shredders are a necessity, are often required by law and are found in all offices around the country, including federal government offices. So how can ABC Office help with government paper shredder purchases?

ABC Office has been working with the federal government and has refined the purchasing process to be seamless and painless. ABC Office not only accepts government purchasing cards and purchase orders, but is also often able to offer discounted or GSA pricing on most models.

ABC Office is more than happy to offer custom government quotes. Simply fill out the government quote request form found here. Need three or more quotes on any given model? No problem. We are able to offer three competitive and legitimate quotes upon request.

We are registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Our DUNS number is 078448164 and our Cage Code is 0geb8.

We take the hassle out of government purchasing. Feel free to contact us at 1-800-658-8788 for more information on how ABC Office can help you with government purchases.